Patent GB-191219756-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Devices for Regulating the Operation of Automatic Pianos or Organs and Gramophones or the like Working Together.
Inventor: LAKE WILLIAM EDWARD
Filed: 1912-08-29
Granted: 1913-04-03
Abstract: 19,756. Lake, W. E., [Aeolian Co.]. Aug. 29. Combined with gramophones; tracker bars; tune - sheets; winding- mechanism. - To cause an automatic piano or organ to play in unison with a gramophone, coupled bellows are employed which control the throttle valve of the piano or organ motor. The two bellows are controlled from the tune - sheet and the gramophone turntable respectively. T h e gramophone turntable is released, and a starting impulse is imparted to it, by means of a pneumatic device controlled by the tunesheet, and its speed is maintained constant throughout the performance. With the valves k, k<1> in the positions shown, when a tune-sheet aperture D<2> admits air through the pipes H, H<@> to the chamber I, the diaphragm I<3> operates a valve to close the port I<Î> and open the port I<0>. The bellows R<2> is thus exhausted through the pipes Q, I<10>, and an extension R<3> of the bellows moving-board rotates the bell-crank T until it disengages a pin on the gramophone turntable S<1>. At the same time. a cam U attached to the bellows imparts an impulse to the turntable S<1> which commences to rotate. The turntable S' is provided with a pin which engages a hole in the record X<1>, and the record is provided with a groove X for guiding the stylus to the beginning of the record line. The bellows R<2> is locked in the collapsed condition by a spring-pressed latch V, which may be released by hand. Each time a tune-sheet aperture D<1> registers with the tracker-duct B<2>, air is admitted through pipes H<1>, H<7> to operate a valve for closing a port P<3> and opening a port P<4>. A bellows P<2> is thus connected to exhaust through the pipes I<1>, I<10> and tends to close the throttle valve N controlling the speed of the motor F<4> driving the automatic piano. A projection S<5> on the turntable S' at each revolution operates a lever W carrying a roller W<3> to open a valve W<4>. Air is thus admitted through a pipe W<6> to operate a valve for closing a port N<6> and opening a port N'. A larger bellows N<2> is thus connected to exhaust and opens slightly the throttle valve N. The moving boards of the bellows P<2>, N<2> are connected by a link P<5> and adjustable screws P<6>, N<8> are provided to limit their movements. The duct B' and valve W<4> remain open for equal periods of time, but the duct B<2> is opened slightly before the valve W<4>. The valve N is in this manner caused to vary the speed of the piano-player so that it plays in unison with the gramophone. If the rod L<2> is moved to the left, the valves K, K<1> are operated to connect the tracker-ducts B<1>, B<2> to the pipes H<4>, H5 leading to the playing action. At the same time, a valve M is operated through a link L<3> to open an additional port M<2> connecting the pipes M<5>, M<4> which communicate respectively with the motor F<4> and exhaust. Additional ducts may be provided to control the synchronizing-device, valves being used to open or close the connexion between the pipes H, H<6> and H<1>, H<7> respectively. To rewind the tunesheet, the pinion G is disengaged from the spur-wheel G' and the sprocket-wheel E' is clutched to the spindle E. The roller C' is thus driven through the chain E<2> and sprocket-wheel E<3>.